Historic Snowfall Blankets North Florida, Breaking Long-Standing Records

Historic Snowfall Blankets North Florida, Breaking Long-Standing Records

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee confirmed that snow officially fell across North Florida on Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday, marking a historic weather event.

Videos and photos captured the rare sight of snow accumulating on the ground in Florida’s Panhandle, a region unaccustomed to winter storms of this magnitude.

Florida Shatters Snowfall Records

In response to the Arctic blast sweeping across the state, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency, as heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures created hazardous conditions.

Florida’s previous snowfall record—4 inches—has now been eclipsed in multiple locations. Milton, Molino, and Bellview each saw between 8 and 10 inches of snow, doubling the old record set in 1954.

“We’re all snowbirds now,” at least for North Floridians, as the freak winter storm transformed the Panhandle into an unexpected winter wonderland.

These were not just any records—they were long-standing milestones in Florida’s weather history. On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Milton, the town of Jay, and parts of neighboring Escambia County recorded an astonishing 10 inches of snowfall, according to the latest National Weather Service data.

Pensacola also shattered its previous record of 3 inches from 1895, reporting 7.5 inches of snow, while Pensacola International Airport measured an even higher total of 8.9 inches.

Even Tallahassee joined in on the winter spectacle, with trained spotters confirming over 2 inches of snowfall in areas southeast of Elba. Jacksonville, too, experienced a rare dusting, with flurries falling for the first time since 1989.

Florida vs. Alaska? The Snow Totals Speak for Themselves

Amazingly, some parts of Florida saw more snow than Anchorage, Alaska. Since Dec. 1, Anchorage has only recorded 3.8 inches of snowfall, according to AccuWeather—though, to be fair, the Alaskan city received over 25 inches earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, residents of Lakeland, though not cold enough for real accumulation, captured video of what appeared to be fluttering flakes—perhaps just another surprise in an already extraordinary winter storm.